Spbibtg-saddle



lio

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

` J. C. SMITH, OF STOUGHSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPRING-SADDLE.

i Specification of Letters Patent No. 8,064, dated April 29, 1851.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH O.- SMITH, of Stoughstown, in the county of Cumberland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Spring Saddletrees, of which the following i spring plate which extends longitudinally from the pommel toward the cantle and is connected with the former by a spring which allows it to yield as the bridge springs are depressed by the weight of the rider.

In the accompanying drawing A, A, are the side-pieces of the saddletree which are connected in the usual manner by the pommel B and cantle C. A series of transverse, arched spring plates a are mounted upon the side pieces, and bridge the opening `beptween them. The. extremities of these bridge springs rest upon metal plates b secured to the side pieces, to which they are attached by screws c which pass through slots e in the extremities of the bridge springs a and retain them in their proper position upon the saddle tree. The extremities of one of these bridge springs are prolonged and are fitted with links f to which the stirrup leathers are secured.

The bridge spring plates are all connected at their middles with a longitudinal plate Z which extends from the pommel B toward the. cantle O. This longitudinal plate is connected with the pommel ,by a spiral spring g which yields as the bridge springs are depressed and contracts as they rise,

`thus allowing the longitudinal plates Z to move as the extremities of the bridge springs slide down upon the side plates b. leather `cushion which forms the seat is mounted upon this spring bridge frame and the stirrup leathers are suspended from the The links f at the prolonged extremities of one of the bridge plates.'

This method of constructing spring saddle trees affords an easy and comfortable seat to the rider, who being supported on a spring frame is relieved from the unpleasant jolting motion caused by a heavy footed riding horse. The yielding connection of the longitudinal plate with the pommel is of considerable importance in reference to the comfort of the rider, for if the connection was unelastic, the highest parts of the bridge springs would be drawn forward as they were depressed, thus communicating a very uneasy movement to the seat of the saddle; 'whereas by this construction the bridge springs are allowed to move slightly y backward, thus accommodating themselves to the natural movement of the rider. The

seat of the vrider is rendered more easy and springs; thus a saddle is formed by means f of which the whole weight of the rider is constantly sustained upon springs which,

while they add to the comfort of the rider,

relieve the horse to a great extent from the jolts and working of the saddle caused by bad riding.

Having thus described my bridge-spring saddle tree what I claim therein as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent isl. The pommel spring in combination with the seat springs substantially as herein set forth.

2. I also claim the method of suspending the stirrups by connecting them with the same springs which support the seat, whereby the elevation and depression of the one is simultaneous with the elevation and depression of the other.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

` JOSEPH C. SMITH. Witnesses:

SAML. G. BIXLERS, ROB. Hoon. 

